DCEU’s Lifeline is Wonder-ful…well almost!

Let me start this by saying, ‘I’m team DC’. Always was. And yes, I have been quite disappointed with what’s been going on on the silver screen when it comes to our favorite superheroes from the DC stable. Not that the comics were any better over the last few years, what with the New 52 etc. Rebirth somehow has managed to bring back the lost fans, but I gotta admit, I feel it’s like jumping into a tornado right now if one has to ‘catch up’ (for lack of better words) with what’s been happening in the comicsverse.

Technically, this is where the movie universes, of both the Giants – DC and Marvel, come into play. We, as nerds, tend to look at these films as something which would give us a sense of satisfaction when it comes to all those years we have put in reading these comics, loving the characters and etching those images in our brains. But quite often than not, they have disappointed, and let’s face it, DC more than Marvel. I gotta admit, Marvel has been more efficient in building their movie universe and tying in everything very well, and DC has been trying to catch up. No one would’ve been more disappointed than me after watching BvS. Suicide Squad though is my guilty pleasure. I enjoyed the film, even the hammy villain, and the utterly stupid climax. Still, enjoyed it! (Judge me). So, now that Wonder Woman was on the horizon, everyone, including you, my reader friend, was waiting with bated breath to know the silver screen fate of the beloved Amazonian. Gal Gadot has done what none others in the DCEU could so far. Won the fan in me over!

The movie takes up from where BvS kind of left off and then takes us back in time to Diana’s journey as a child who wants to become a warrior but is told she’s not ready. Cliched, yes, but treated quite differently. Watch out for Robin Wright as General Antiope, she puts the ‘bad’ in badass! As we see Diana getting groomed for battle eventually, the tale goes into the main storyline of the movie, where Chris Pine’s character crash lands into Themyscira.

As we had seen in the trailers, Diana hears about the ‘War to end all wars’ and proceeds with Pine’s Steve Trevor to defeat Ares, the God of War. While that is the overall theme of the movie, with the story focusing on and building up to the confrontation between Wonder Woman and Ares, there are some major twists and turns all throughout (No Spoilers!). In fact, the main big twist was quite unexpected, so in a way, the movie makes sure that there is no predictable element here. I quite liked what they did there.

Along the way, the story begins to look like yet another formulaic adventure, where there is a motley crew of soldiers/heroes who have to infiltrate enemy territory and do what’s needed to be done. Could hear Will Smith say “We’re some kind of Suicide Squad?” Anyway, Diana’s action scenes are amazingly done, filmed, choreographed and CGed, and it is in these sequences, that you see THE Wonder Woman of the comics and our fan-memories, really shine. Gal Gadot is very comfortable in the shoes of Diana Prince and boy can she kick ass. This brings me to her cameo in BvS, wish there was more of her in it actually. You have to see the action scenes to live this thrill. Though we have seen some of these in the trailers, there’s much more to it.

Danny Huston as the menacing General Ludendorff is good but somewhat underplayed. Also, looks like he’s the go-to villain when it comes to casting in superhero films (he did play Col.Stryker in Xmen Origins- Wolverine). Elena Anaya’s Dr.Poison is a character to look out for. She’s a baddie, but there is something human about her which you kind of feel for…and thankfully they haven’t hammed it up or made extensively focusing about. Lucy Davis, of the British show “The Office” fame, adds some (sometimes unnecessary) funny moments, but seriously, you don’t mind those. You would always anticipate seeing Gal Gadot on screen. She owns the film and delivers probably a very comic-authentic portrayal of the DC Comics character, as seen in the DCEU.

That said, I did feel that the movie is NOT the best superhero film I’ve seen. There were moments in the film I genuinely got bored, especially in the second half. And the final battle was just too overstretched and loud, reminding me of the pain BvS inflicted in its third act. And since they had, to sum up, Diana’s rise from a little princess to the warrior, the movie does seem rushed at times. Contrasting, isn’t it? Rushed, boring and sometimes slow. But that’s Wonder Woman for you. See it for the fan moments, and most definitely Gal Gadot (yes, this is the nth time I say this!).

Hopefully, here on DCEU picks up and kicks some butt in Justice League, I really can’t wait for that one!

Abhijeet Kini is a Mumbai based illustrator, animator and independent comics publisher, known for his comic series “Angry Maushi” and “Fanboys” and his regular work in ‘Tinkle’. Besides drawing for comics and magazines, he’s an avid collector of comics and action figures.

Abhijeet Kini is a Mumbai based illustrator, animator and independent comics publisher, known for his comic series "Angry Maushi" and "Fanboys" and his regular work in ‘Tinkle’. Besides drawing for comics and magazines, he’s an avid collector of comics and action figures.